NBSTSA Practice exam A (2020)questions and answers

1.During a laparoscopic appendectomy, the appendix is perforated, and contents begin spilling into the abdomen. Which of the following should the surgical technologist anticipate as the NEXT step? A.Suction the fluid from the abdomen. B.Continue removing the appendix as planned. C.Place a Kelly clamp over the perforation. D.Close the wound and terminate the procedure. A 2.A carotid endarterectomy has just been finished and the dressing is on. The surgical technologist begins removing all sharps and non-disposables from the drapes before pushing everything back. According to best practice, which of the following should be the NEXT step? A.Push the back table, mayo, and basin back and tear it down. B.Pull the drapes off and put them on the back table in case they are needed again. C.Push the back table, mayo, and basin back and keep sterile until the patient is transported to PACU. D.Leave the back table, mayo, and basin close to patient in case they are needed again. C 3.Which of the following should be prepared for a mastoid dressing? A.several squared gauze sponges B.rolled gauze and an abdominal pad C.several fluffed sponges and rolled gauze D.gauze sponges and a Velcro strap C 4.Which of the following is the FIRST step in applying the pneumatic tourniquet? A.wrapping the limb sequentially with an Esmarch bandage from distal to proximal B.applying the pneumatic tourniquet to the limb and immediately inflating it C.prepping the limb with ChloraPrep, including the determined location of the tourniquet D.padding the limb where the tourniquet is to be wrapped with Webril D 5. When performing a dilation and curettage, which of the following instruments is used to grasp the cervix? A.Sims B.Auvard C.Schroeder D. Bozeman C 6. How many lobes do the right and left lungs have, respectively? A.three, two B.two, three C.three, three D.two, two A 7. When a break in aseptic technique occurs, the surgical technologist should FIRST notify the A.circulating nurse. B.contaminating team member. C.OR supervisor. D.anesthesia provider. B 8. Which of the following pathological conditions may be caused by an excessive production of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain? A.hydrocephalus B.encephalocele C.cranial bifida D.craniosynostosis A 9. If unexpected heavy blood loss occurs during an abdominal procedure, a surgical technologist should request additional A.lap sponges. B.Raytec sponges. C.Kitners. D.cottonoids. A 10. Growth in the length of a long bone occurs at the A.diaphysis. B.medullary canal. C.epiphyseal plate. D.articular cartilage. C 11. In which of the following situations can a DNR order be continued in an unconscious patient for a surgical procedure? A.The patient's durable POA requests it be continued. B.The patient's family requests it be continued. C.The surgeon requests its be continued. D.The CRNA requests it be continued. A 12. A surgeon asks for warm irrigation after a right hemicolectomy. Which of the following BEST describes the reason for irrigating at this point in the procedure? A.to clean out the area of any loose tissue B.to maintain the core body temperature C.to eliminate any infection-causing microbes D.to aid visual inspection for leakage D 13. The rate per hour in air exchanges in a standard OR suite is A.5-10. B.15-25. C.30-35. D.40-50. B 14. If there is any question related to handling a specific type of specimen, which of the following departments should be consulted? A.histology B.laboratory C.pathology D.radiology C 15. A patient's dentures are removed in the operating room. Which of the following is the proper procedure for the care of the dentures? A.Return them to the patient's unit and leave them at the nurses' station. B.Place them in a labeled cup and keep them with the patient's chart. C.Wrap them in a paper towel and give them to the anesthesiologist. D.Ask the circulator to return them to the patient's room. B √ 16. A patient is scheduled for laser removal of condyloma acuminata. As a safety precaution, the surgical technologist should have which of the following special equipment open and available? A. smoke evacuator B. suction tip C. pulse lavage D. endo-catch bag A 17. Apart from trauma cases, which of the following incisions would be BEST for sigmoid surgery? A. vertical midline B. vertical paramedian C. oblique subcostal D. lower transverse B 18. The kidneys help regulate the blood levels of several ions, including A. bicarbonate, water, and protein. B. protein, sodium, and bicarbonate. C. potassium, protein, and sodium. D. sodium, potassium, and calcium. D 19. Which of the following is the MOST effective mechanical method of controlling bleeding occurring from needle holes in vessel anastomoses? A. pledget B. suction C. ligature D. clamp A 20. Which of the following tags indicates the least critical of patients in a triage situation? A. yellow B. black C. red D. green D 21. During a craniotomy, removal of the bone flap is followed by A. incision of the dura mater. B. opening the galea aponeurotica. C. application of the Raney clips. D. repairing the dura mater. A 22. After gowning and gloving, a surgeon activates the DuraPrep applicator and performs the initial skin prep for surgery. Which of the following is the BEST action to take at this time? A. Assist the surgeon in draping the patient. B. Regown and reglove the surgeon. C. Pass off Bovie and suction. D. Inform the supervisor. B 23. A specimen obtained for frozen section is generally removed from the sterile field intraoperatively because it A. needs to be labeled by the circulator. B. is sent to pathology immediately. C. will contaminate the sterile field. D. needs to be placed in formalin solution. B 24. A surgeon is preparing to close the abdomen. Which of the following closing supplies should the surgical technologist have ready for closing the fascial layer? A. 0 suture and toothed tissue forceps B. 7-0 Vicryl and toothed tissue forceps C. retention sutures and toothed tissue forceps D. staples and Adson with teeth A 25. During a procedure, a hole is noticed in the surgical technologist's glove. What should the surgical technologist do NEXT? A. Continue the case. B. Change the glove using the open-gloving technique. C. Change the glove using the closed-gloving technique. D. Break scrub, rescrub, gown, and glove. B 26. Which of the following instruments should be included in a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) setup? A. lithotrite B. urethrotome C. resectoscope D. Randall Stone C 27. Which of the following terms describes airway assessment by listening with a stethoscope? A. observation B. perfusion C. auscultation D. palpation C 28. Which of the following techniques promotes safety and protection of the surgical technologist during the intraoperative phase? A. securing the electrosurgical pencil to the drapes with a Kelly clamp after every use B. recapping hypodermic needle C. establishing a neutral zone D. using PPE, except in endoscopic procedures C 29. Which of the following verifies that autoclave sterilization has occurred? A. chemical indicator B. Julian date C. heat-sensitive tape D. biological indicator D 30. Which of the following instruments is used in otorhinolaryngology surgery? A. Heaney B. Baron C. Doyen D. Poole B 31. An organization that regulates the production of biological sterilization test packs in-house is A. CDC. B. ANSI. C. AAMI. D. SDS. C 32. For an open hemicolectomy, a surgical technologist is preparing a second mayo stand for the placement of dirty surgical instruments. Which of the following instruments is MOST likely to be placed on the second mayo stand? A. Penrose drain B. Bakes dilator C. Allis forceps D. Richardson retractor C 33. When loading items in a gravity-displaced steam sterilizer, heavy packs should be placed A. at the periphery of the load. B. on their sides. C. on the top rack. D. centered on the middle rack. A 34. A liver laceration is identified during an emergency exploratory laparotomy. A surgical technologist should prepare a suture attached to which of the following types of needles? A. tapered B. reverse cutting C. blunt D. conventional cutting C